MC5 had a promising beginning that earned them a January 1969 cover appearance in Rolling Stone magazine and a story written by Eric Ehrmann before their debut album was released. They developed a reputation for energetic and polemical live performances, one of which was recorded as their 1969 debut album Kick Out the Jams. Their initial run was short-lived, though. In 1972, just three years after their debut record, the band came to an end. Often cited as one of the most important American hard rock groups of that era, their three albums are regarded by many as classics.
Tyner died of a heart attack in late 1991 at the age of 46. Smith also died of a heart attack, in 1994 at the age of 45. The remaining three members of the band reformed in 2003 with The Dictators' singer Handsome Dick Manitoba as its new vocalist, and this reformed line-up occasionally performed live over the next nine years until Davis died of liver failure in February 2012 at the age of 68.
In 2022, Kramer announced that a tour would take place that spring, and that a new MC5 studio album with producer Bob Ezrin would also be released later that year with original MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson playing on two tracks. In 2023, Kramer announced that the album would be released in the spring of 2024. Kramer died in February 2024, leaving Thompson as the only surviving original member of the band.
Ramblin' Rose
MC5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The more you feed it
The more it grows,
Ramblin´Rose, Ramblin´Rose,
Come on home
Ramblin' Rose,
Is such a ball
And a Cadillac car,
Ramblin´ Rose, Ramblin´ Rose
Come on home
Ramblin´ Rose
Ramblin´ around,
Ramblin´ Rose
I´m gonna put you down
Ramblin´ Rose, Ramblin´ Rose
Come on home
Love is like a Ramblin´ Rose
The more you feed it,
The more it grows
Ramblin´ Rose, Ramblin´ Rose
Come on home
I need a Ramblin´ Rose
Ramblin' Rose
The song "Ramblin' Rose" by MC5 is a love song that compares love to a "Ramblin' Rose." The song talks about how love is like a rose, the more you feed it the more it grows. The lyrics suggest that the singer is in love and cannot resist the charms of his lover, who he describes as a Ramblin' Rose. The Ramblin' Rose in question is skilled in love and seduction and has the ability to win the hearts of many men.
The chorus of the song suggests that the Ramblin' Rose should come home, as the singer is unable to resist her and desires her presence. The lyrics represent the classic rock and roll themes of love, desire, and sexual attraction. The song's repetition of the term "Ramblin' Rose" gives the impression of a beautiful, seductive, and rebellious woman who attracts men with her skills of love and seduction.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is like a Ramblin´ Rose
Love is like a wildflower that grows the more it is nurtured.
The more you feed it
The more attention and care you give to love, the bigger and stronger it becomes.
The more it grows,
Love can become all-consuming and overpowering.
Ramblin' Rose, Ramblin' Rose,
The wandering nature of love is being personified as a woman named Ramblin' Rose.
Come on home
Despite the unpredictable nature of love, the singer is asking Ramblin' Rose to come back home and stay.
Is such a ball
Ramblin' Rose is exciting and fun to be around.
Diamond rings
The gifts that come with love are often material possessions that signify its strength and value.
And a Cadillac car,
The extravagant car represents the material desires that love can fulfill.
Ramblin' around,
Ramblin' Rose is moving and unpredictable.
I'm gonna put you down
The singer is expressing his desire to end his relationship with Ramblin' Rose because of her wild and unpredictable nature.
I need a Ramblin' Rose
Despite the challenges of loving Ramblin' Rose, the singer still desires her and needs her in his life.
Ramblin' Rose, Ramblin' Rose
Repetition of her name emphasizes the importance of Ramblin' Rose to the singer.
Come on home
The singer still wants Ramblin' Rose to come back to him and stay.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRED B. BURCH, MARIJOHN WILKIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
frenchabortion
Ramblin’ Rose [Wayne Kramer vocals] (0:00)
Kick Out The Jams (2:55)
Lookin’ At You (6:17)
Rob Tyner- Lead Vocals
Wayne Kramer- Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals on “Ramblin’ Rose”
“Machine Gun” Dennis Thompson- Drums
Fred “Sonic” Smith- Rhythm Guitar
Michael Davis- Bass
Wayne Kramer
I'm going to make a comment here about this video/audio master. It came to my office preserved with the edit of "mutherfuckers". We focused more on the quality of the video and audio rather than the fact that the lead vocal had been altered with that millisecond of silence. So .... let's rock. w.
Mike C
Thank You Brother Wayne. Please know that people still love and kick out the jams to the Five. Take Care.
fuzzballzz36
Rock on, Brother Wayne! This is a truly great performance.
Laughing Daffodils
It's a small alteration in a long performance, and it's better to have the performance preserved rather than not. However, it should be fully restored. The edit is an abomination.
tiny b
At least they didn't edit out that classic footwork. Best to you, Brother Wayne.
chris wright
I never tire of watching this performance. Never.
Ronald Livington
I am a Black 64 year old man born and raised in Detroit. I have always loved Detroit rock and roll ( and Hendrix ). I was at this concert at Wayne State U. I was lucky to see the great Motor City 5 many times, they were the GREATEST LIVE BAND EVER !! That’s means a lot because in Detroit in those days, we saw all of the top groups on a regular basis. Grand Funk, Zep,Hendrix,The Who, Black Sabbath,Johnny Winter,Funkadelic,Santana — I saw the New York Dolls open for Kiss @ the Michigan Theatre before the both hit big. Man those days were AWESOME!! But NOBODY commanded an audience and stage like the GREAT MC5 (Rob Tyler and I both had big Afros also) PEACE.
Jimiplayscobo
Did you see the Amboy Dukes in 69? I seen them on the steps of the Detroit library. I was 13 at the time. I was standing next to a huge black guy with a bullwhip around his shoulder maybe it was you:) I was a skinny white guy a little scared and he looked down at me and smiled and all my fears melted. That was before I seen Jimi at Cobo. I used to go to the East Towne lots. A friend of mine had a big afro too. We used to hide joints in his hair going before over the border from Windsor:) Lots of great memories going to Detroit:)))
Len Colby
Except Tyner's Afro was a perm!
Ronald Livington
Len Colby True, but was still great.